Chewing gum composition



ite States 3,473,933 CEEWTNG GUM COWOSITKON Yoshinori Sato, 28-6 ll-chome, Nishirokugo, Uta-kn, and Yukio lnoue, 35 3-chome, Nakamura, Nerima-ku, both of Tokyo, Japan No Drawing. Filed Jan. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 611,237 Claims priority, application Japan, Jan. 28, 1966,

,622 int. Cl. A23}; 3/30; (108E /00 US. Cl. 99-135 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to chewing gum base compositions. More particularly the present invention relates to a chewing gum base composition comprising a resinous mixture obtained by polymerizing vinyl propionate under a specific condition and to a chewing gum composition made from it.

For base resins for chewing gum products, there have been mostly used such natural resins as Chicle resin and Jelutong resin. However, as these resins are natural products, they have defects that products of a fixed quality are hard to obtain and that they are costly. On the other hand, polyvinyl acetate has properties considerably similar to those of such natural resins and is a synthetic product. Therefore, it is so easy to obtain a fixed quality of polyvinyl acetate and it is so cheaply available with the development of the synthetic resin industry that polyvinyl acetate is mostly used as a base resin for chewing gum products. However, in the case of using polyvinyl acetate as a base resin for chewing gum products, there will be some of such disadvantages as are mentioned below. Therefore, polyvinyl acetate is not always good enough for such purpose. That is to say, a chewing gum product is obtained by using polyvinyl acetate as a base resin, blending in it such additives for the chewing gum base as calcium carbonate, talc, wax, polyisobutylene, ester gums, emulsifiers and plasticizers so as to be a chewing gum base composition and further mixing with it such sweeteners as sugar and flavoring materials. When the viscosity of the polyvinyl acetate which is the base resin is high, the product will be stiff, will be low in the lift, will absorb saliva while being chewed, will thus become soft and will be sticky in the month. On the other hand, when the viscosity is low, the product will be so soft, will absorb saliva while being chewed and will become very soft.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new chewing gum base composition having improved properties.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a chewing gum base composition having no such disadvantages as are described above.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a chewing gum base composition which can give chewing gum products of an excellent quality which are smooth to the tongue, have a proper lift, are smooth to the teeth and have a pleasant texture and in which the chewing feel varies little from the beginning to the end of chewing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a chewing gum base composition having features that 3,473,33 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 the stretch is very favorable and that the product prepared specifically for bubble gums is high in the ease of blowing bubbles and in the film-formability.

Other objects of the present invention will become clear from the descriptions in the following specification and claim.

It has now become clear that the above mentioned objects of the present invention can be attained by using as a base composition for chewing gum products a resinous mixture obtained by polymerizing vinyl propionate in the presence of at least one kind of substance among resins and additives for the chewing gum base. That is to say, the chewing gum product made by using said resinous mixture has a proper flexibility, is comparatively hard to absorb saliva while being chewed, little becomes soft or sticky and is therefore much more improved in the chewing feel when chewed and the variation with the lapse of time than any chewing gum product produced by using polyvinyl acetate as a base resin. Further, as the polymerizing reaction of vinyl propionate for the production of said resinous mixture is carried out in the presence of such additives for the chewing gum base as wax, polyisobutylene, disproportionated rosin glycerides, ester gums, emulsifiers and plasticizers and/ or such resins for the chewing gum bas as Chicle resin, Jelutong resin and polyvinyl acetate as mentioned above, the respective components in the produced resinous mixture will be blended so closely that the stiffness will become silky, the stretch will be improved and a chewing gum product very excellent in the feel when chewed will be able to be obtained.

It is ideal to carry out the polymerizing reaction of vinyl propionate in the presence of all the desired ingredients of such additives and resins for the chewing gum base as are mentioned above. But, even in the presence of a part of the desired ingredients, there will be a blending effect corresponding to them. Therefore, the present invention shall include also such case in the presence of a part of them. Further, a resinous mixture obtained by polymerizing vinyl propionate in the presence of such resin for the chewing gum base as specifically polyvinyl acetate is so high in the stretch that a product of a bubble gum made from it is high in the ease of blowing bubbles and in the film-formability. In such case, polyvinyl acetate of an intrinsic viscosity (which is measured on an acetone solution at 20 C. and is calculated in a concentration in g./l. and shall be merely known as a viscosity hereinafter) of about 0.005 to 0.057 is proper. Unless the percentage of vinyl propionate to be used on the weight of polyvinyl acetate is at least 10%, there will be obtained no effect of using vinyl propionate. Further, a resinous mixture obtained by polymerizing vinyl propionate in the presence of such additives for the chewing gum base as specifically such emulsifiers as glycerol monostearate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan sesquistearate, sorbitan monolaurate, sugar esters, such plasticizers as butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, dibutyl phthalate, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyhexylene glycol, methyl acetylricinolate and glyceriue, wax, polyisobutylene, disproportionated rosin glycerides and ester gums has a specifically favorable lift and flexibility. Therefore, a product prepared as a thick gum is smooth to the tongue and teeth and is pleasant in the texture.

Further, the polymerizing reaction can be easily made to proceed by heating vinyl propionate together with such coexisting ingredients as are mentioned above in the presence of such radical polymerizing catalyst as, for example, acetyl peroxide, lauryl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide or azobisisobutylonitrile with or without using a solvent such as an alcohol, lower alkyl acetate or ketone. However, it is needless to say that not only such polymerizing system but also any known polymerizing system can be 3 4 adopted. The viscosity of the resin part in such polyming reaction of the vinyl propionate was then carried out erized and produced resinous mixture should be selected by heating and stirring the mixture. The viscosity of the to be within the range of about 0.009 to 0.067. When the obtained polyvinyl propionate was 0.023. viscosity is higher than that, the product will be so stifi The mixture containing the thus obtained polyvinyl that the texture when chewed will be bad. On the other propionate and the above mentioned additives for the hand, when the viscosity is lower than that, the product 5 chewing gum base was transferred to a kneader. To this will be so flexible as to tend to be sticky in the mouth. mixture were added 13 parts of ester gum, 4 parts of cai- Thus neither is desirable. In fact, the polymerizing recium carbonate, 12 parts of wax and 2 parts of glycerol action should be carried out so that the resinous mixture monostearate. The mixture was then heated and well may contain a produced resin of a proper viscosity in kneaded to prepare a chewing gum base composition. the above mentioned viscosity range according to the prop- This chewing gum base composition was further mixed erties required of the product. Generally, it is desirable with sugar and a flavoring material so as to be a chewthat the viscosity of the resin of a stick gum (sweet gum) ing gum. is about 0.009 to 0.035 and that of the resin of a bubble As a control, in the same manner as in the preceding gum is about 0.027 to 0.067. 15 example except that the polymerizing reaction of vinyl The thus obtained resinous mixture is heated alone or propionate was carried out in the presence of no additives properly together with a proper amount of any of such for the chewing gum base, polyvinyl propionate of a visadditives for the chewing gum base as calcium carbonate, cosity of 0.023 was obtained. 25 parts of this polyvinyl talc, wax, polyisobutylene, disproportionated rosin glycpropionate were mixed with 5 parts of calcium carbonate,

erides, emulsifiers and plasticizers or such resins for the 15 parts of wax, 13 parts of ester gum, 2 parts of butyl chewing gum as Chicle resin, Jelutong resin and polyvinyl phthalyl butyl glycolate and 3 parts of glycerol monoacetate and is uniformly mixed by means of a kneader or stearate to prepare a chewing gum (control 1). Banbury mixer so as to be an object chewing gum base Further, polyvinyl acetate of a viscosity of 0.023 incomposition. It is desirable that the percentage of the stead of polyvinyl propionate was mixed in the same resinous mixture in the chewing gum base composition manner with the additives for the chewing gum base to produced in such case is selected to be at least 10% by prepare a chewing gum (control 2).

weight or specifically 20 to 70% by weight. If it is less The results of the chewing tests of these chewing gum than about 10% by weight, substantially no effect of products are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Variations of the flexibility and lift during Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score chewing Example 1 Excellent Excellent Lower excellent--. Excellent 28.5 Always little varied. Control 1 Lower excellent. Lower excellent d0 Higher good... 27. Do. Oontr012 Good Good Good Good 25.0 Considgrably softened in the middle and ending perio s.

N0'rn.'lhe flexibility, lift and other properties in chewing in each of the beginning, middle and ending periods of chewing of a chewing gum prepared in the same manner as in the preceding example except that a natural chicle resin was used as a base resin were investigated and were respectively made 5 points totaling points. The score in the table is a value given by comparing the properties of each sample with them.

using said resinous mixture will be expected. Examples 2 to 3 The chewing gum composition of the present invention is further mixed with such sweetener as sugar, a A p y g Iflacfioll f vinyl propionate was carproper flavoring material and, as required, a coloring Tied out in the Same 1113111161 in p 1 in the P material and is finished to be any of such products as stick e of an ester g diblltyl phthalate (plasticiler), g y gums d b bbl gums, Th th bt i d product i erol monostearate, talc, Vistanex and wax. When chewvery good in the feel when chewed as mentioned above. ing g were Produced y a normal method m the The present invention shall be explained in detail by ained mix ures containing polyvinyl propionate and giving the following examples. However, they are only chewing tests of them were made, the results in Table 3 TABLE 2 Polyvinyl propionate Glycerol Results of chewing tests Amount Ester Dibutyl mono- Visoosof use gum phthalstearate Talc Vistanex Wax Flexi- Ex. No. ity (parts) (parts) ate (Darts) (parts) (parts) (parts) (parts) bility Lift Stretch smoothness Score 2 0.039 50 20 8 3 9 4 4 Lower ex- Lower ex- Lower ex- Lower ex- 27. 5

cellent. cellent. cellent. cellent.

3 0.034 10 11 2 10 2 6 do.... Excellent "do.--" Excellent- 28. 0

to show the manners of working the invention. Thus the 5 were obtained. present invention is not limited in any way by these examples in which parts are by weight. Examples 4 to 6 Example 1 Polyvinyl propionates having various viscosities were 70 produced by polymerizing vinyl propionate in the pres- Into 12 parts of ethanol in a polymerizing kettle proence of calcium carbonate, wax, butyl phthalyl glycolate vided with a stirrer were added 1 part of calcium carand sorbitan monostearate (emulsifier). Further, such bonate, 3 parts of wax, 2 parts of butyl phthalyl butyl various chewing gum base compositions as are shown in glycolate (plasticizer), 1 part of glycerol monostearate Table 3 were prepared in the same manner as in Example (emulsifier) and 25 parts of vinyl propionate and further 1 except that chicle resin was mixed in and chewing gums acetyl peroxide as a polymerizing catalyst. A polymerizwere made from the respective compositions.

The results of the experiments are shown in Table 3. with 33 parts of an ester gum, 5 parts of calcium car- TABLE 3 Amount of use of butyl- Amount phthalyl Viscosity oi use of butylof vinyl chicle glyco- Example proresin late Variations ot the flexibility and lift Nos. pionate (parts) (parts) Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score during chewmg 4 0.013 15 4 Excellent Excellent.... Higllier ex- Excellent... 29.0 Always little varied.

ce cut. 5 0.040 15 17 Lower Lower Lower Lower 27.5 Do.

excellent. excellent. excellent. excellent. 0.057 15 23 Higher good Higher good. Highergood...- .do 27.0 stifienedd a llttle in the ending perro Control 3 0.008 0 Good Good do Good 20.5 Graduallyreduced Control 4--- 0.073 30 .-do Higher Good .-d0 22.0 Stifienedlnthe ending period.

good.

bonate, 9 parts of wax and 1 part of glycerol mono- Examples 7 to 8 stearate in a kneader to prepare a chewing gum base When 75 parts of vinyl propionate were polymerized composition. Further, sugar and a flavoring material were in the presence of parts of Chicle resin, a mixture mixed in this base composition to prepare a bubble gum. of a polyvinyl propionate resin of a viscosity of 0.025 Further, as a control, experiments were made in the and Chicle resin was obtained. This mixture was further case that 20 parts of the 41 parts of the above menmixed with 18 parts of an ester gum, 6 parts of dibutyl tioned mixture were replaced with polyvinyl acetate of a phthalate, 4 parts of sorbitan monostearate, 8 parts of calcium carbonate and 18 parts of wax. The thus obviscosity of 0.038 (control 7).

25 The results of the experiments are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Film-Iormability Variation of the Ease of Film of Adhesiveflexibility and blowing blowing nose to Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score lift during chewing bubbles bubbles skin Example 9 Excellent--- Excellent..- Lower Excellent..- 29.0 Always little varied-.. Lower Excellent. None.

exce1 excellent. lent. Control7 Good Higher Higher Good 25.0 Considerably softened Good Good Some.

good. good. in the middle and ending periods.

tained chewing gum base composition was mixed with Examples 10 to 12 sugar and a flavoring material to prepare a chewing gum Chewing gums were prepared in the Same manner as p in Example 1 except that a part of the polyvinyl pro- Further expenmems W made m case usmg pionate obtained in Example 1 was replaced respectively 25 parts of Jelutong resin instead of Ch1cle resm (Exwith other base resins for the chewing gums ample The results of the experiments are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Amount of use of polyvinyl Basin resin propionatecontaining Amount mixture of use (parts) Kind (p r Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score Example Nos.:

10 Chicle 15 ig e e cellent"-.- Higher exeellent Excellent Excellent 29.5 50 Jelutong 15 .d0 Excellent -do d0 29.0 45 Ptgggrtigl 20 Lower excellent".-. Higher good Lower excellent.-. Lower excellent... 27.5

having a viscosity ot0.023.

Further, as controls, experiments were made in the case B 1 13 of mixing the respective additives and Chicle resin (conxamp e trol 5) or lelutong resin (control 6) that in the same 20 parts of vinyl propionate were polymerized in the manner except that vinyl propionate was polymerized in presence of 10 parts of a Chicle resin, 5 parts of butyl the absence of Chicle resin and Jelutong resin. phthalyl butyl glycolate, 3 parts of glycerol monostearate The results of these experiments are shown in Table 4. and 1 part of wax to obtain a mixture of polyvinyl propio- TABLE 4 Example Nos. Flexibility Liit Stretch smoothness Score Higher excellent.-... Higher excellent- Excellent Hig er excellent..- 30.0 8 o xcellen 29.5 Control 5. Higher excellent. 29.0 ControlG ..do Excellent do ..d0 28.5

Example 9 nate of a viscosity of 0.035 and the above mentioned respective ingredients. This mixture was further mixed with 20 parts of vinyl propionate were polymerized 1n the 38 parts of an ester gum, 1 part of butyl phthalyl butyl presence of 3 parts of calcium carbonate, 9 parts of wax, glycolate, 1 part of glycerol monostearate, 8 parts of 6 parts of butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate and 3 parts of tale, 6 parts of Vistanex and 1 part of wax to prepare a glycerol monostearate to obtain a mixture containing chewing gum base composition. This composition was polyvinyl propionate of a viscosity of 0.038 and the further mixed with sugar and flavoring material to preabove mentioned additives. This mixture was then mixed pare a bubble gum.

The results of measuring the properties of this bubble gum are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Film-formability galiggfins ofdtllret 1Elase of Adhesiveex] 8 Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score during cli ew ing bu lib lgg s t r -ie r i gth s l i ri to Excellent Higher Hi her Higher 80.0 i

excellent. eicellent. excellent. A ways hme ggs N0118- Examples 14 to 15 by mixing sugar and a flavoring material in this chewing Vinyl propionate was polymerized in the presence of base composltlon are shown In Table TABLE 9 Film-iormability Variation of the Ease oi Adhesiveflexibility and liit blowing Film ness to Flexibility Lift Stretch smoothness Score duri g cheWlIlg bubbles strength skin Excellent Excellent Excellent Higher excellent- 30.0 Always ttle var ed.-- Ex ll nt--- Excellent--- None.

polyvinyl acetate of a viscosity of 0.020 to obtain a resin What we claim is: of a viscosity of 0.038. parts of this resin were mixed 1. Achewmg gHHTCOHSlStlHg essentially of with 33 parts of an ester gum, 7 parts of butyl phthalyl (a) a res1n0us m xture obtained by polymenmng v1- butyl glycolate, 3 parts of glycerol monostearate, 7 parts nyl propionate 1n the presence of both resins and of talc, 5 parts of Vistanex and 3 parts of wax in a additlves for the chewlng gum base; sald resin bekneader to prepare a chewing gum base composition. ing a member selected frorn the group consisting of This composition was further mixed with sugar and a Chicle resin, Jelutong resin and polyvinyl acetate. flavoring material to prepare a bubble gum. and said additive being a member selected from the Further, as a control, experiments were made also in group conslstlng of wax, polyisobutylene, disproporthe case that 15 parts of the 20 parts of the above mente rosin glywrldes, ester gums, emulsifiers and timed resin were replaced with polyvinyl acetate of a plasticizers, viscosity of 0.038. (b) a sweetener and The results of the experiments are shown in Table 8. (c) a flavoring material.

TABLE 8 I 7 I Fllm-formability Variations of the Ease 0! Adhesiveflexibility and liit blowing Film ness to Flexibility Lift Stretch Smoothness Score during chewing bubbles strength skin fig i jfif Excellent-.. Excellent... Excellent-.. Lower t 29.5 Always little varied... Excellent Excellent-.. None. 8308 en 15 Higher Higher Lower do 26. 5 Decreased in the Higher Higher s m good. good. excellent. ending period. good. good.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Example ManSon I 3,063,844 11/1962 Meguro et a1. 99l35 Vinyl propionate was polymerized 1n the presence of 3,156,678 11/1964 Dexheimer et a1. 26O 89.l 5 parts of butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, 3 parts of glycerol monostearate, 1 part of wax and 15 parts of poly- FOREIGN PATENTS vinyl acetate of a viscosity of 0.025 to obtain a mixture 834,754 5/1960 Great Britain of a resin of a viscosity of 0.037, butyl phthalyl butyl y g y ol g This i e 5 LIONEL M. SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner was urt er mixe wit parts 0 an ester gum, par 5 of butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, 1 part of glycerol mono- LAWTON Asslstant Exammer stearate, 8 parts of talc, 6 parts of Vistanex and 1 part of U S Cl X R wax to prepare a chewing gum base composition.

The results of chewing tests of a bubble gum obtained 375 

